New Jersey cites P'burg company for spills into river

Atlantic State Cast Iron Pipe leaked hydraulic fluid. It may be fined.

November 13, 2007|By Harley Rissmiller Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has delivered formal notices of violation against Atlantic State Cast Iron Pipe Co. in Phillipsburg for spills into the Delaware River in August and September.

"Even though they admitted they were the cause of the spills and they addressed it, that doesn't let them off the hook," said DEP spokesperson Darlene Youpas about the violation notices DEP issued Oct. 18. "They still have to address that they violated the law."

The violations were for three instances on Aug. 25, Sept. 8 and Sept. 22 where hydraulic fluid from the plant into the Delaware River, giving the river surface a chemical sheen.

The sheen was caused by hydraulic fluid that seeped from under one of the company's buildings on Sitgreaves Street into the town storm sewer lines, which go to the river. The company uses hydraulic fluid for lifts to move pipes.

Atlantic States admitted it was the source of the leaks a day before the DEP confirmed that assessment. The company spent about a week under DEP supervision clearing up the problems.

Youpas said that a violation notice in a situation such as this is almost automatic, but the DEP handles each case on an individual basis. She said the notices came in October because DEP was still working on its investigation.

While no fines have been assessed so far, she said, they could be coming. She said many state resources were used in the river cleanup. DEP officials want to meet with Atlantic States' officials in December before deciding on a course of action. Fines also are decided case by case.

"We want to know why it happened and we want to be assured that it will never happen again," Youpas said, noting the meeting could at least partially determine further action.

Atlantic States' spokespeople did not return requests for comment.

The Delaware River Keeper's Network, an advocacy group for the environmental preservation of the river, hopes that the DEP follows up with fines and an investigation of all Atlantic States' activities relating to the river.

"We think it's very important that the notices of violation be followed up with strong and severe fines," said Tracy Carluccio, deputy director for the River Keeper's Network. "The company should be required to fix the damage it did to the river. It's not only a matter of money. It's a matter of resources."

Carluccio said the Network is conducting an independent investigation to see if the company has the potential for more damage to the river. "We are simply not confident that this facility is being run in a way that is protective of the Delaware River," she said.